Scotland v Tonga: Rugby World Cup 2023 match preview, team news, kick-off time & Pool B standings

Scotland take on Tonga in Nice on Sunday knowing only a victory will keep alive their hopes of progressing from Pool B at the Rugby World Cup.

An opening 18-3 defeat to defending champions South Africa has taken away any margin for error before the Scots' three remaining pool matches.

Tonga got their tournament under way with a 59-16 defeat by Ireland.

Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend has made four changes to his side from the defeat by the Springboks.

Neither of these sides feel they gave a true reflection of themselves in their opener. Scotland matched up physically to the power of South Africa for much of the game in Marseille, but a crippling lack of accuracy, especially at the line-out, meant they failed to trouble a suffocating Springboks defence.

Tonga started promisingly against Ireland in Nantes, disrupting the normally ruthless breakdown work with a succession of jackal turnovers, but wilted badly as the world's top-ranked team moved through the gears to streak away on the scoreboard.

Drawn alongside three of the world's top five sides in Pool B, progression to the quarter-finals never looked a realistic proposition for the Tongans.

They will, however, be desperate to take the scalp of at least one of those big sides and Scotland will undoubtedly be the match they have targeted as their best opportunity.

They also have the added motivation of knowing a victory over Scotland in Sunday's match, kicking off at 16:45 BST, should all but seal their passage to the next World Cup in four years' time.

The most recent meeting between the teams was a 60-14 victory for Scotland at Murrayfield in October 2021, although the Tongans have been strengthened since then by a number of stellar names - including Salesi Piutau and Malakai Fekitoa - becoming eligible on ancestry grounds, having previously represented other countries.

Townsend has brought Rory Sutherland and Scott Cummings into the pack to replace Pierre Schoeman and Grant Gilchrist, while Kyle Steyn and Chris Harris take the places of Darcy Graham and Huw Jones in the back-line.

Schoeman, Jones and Graham are all on a strong-looking Scotland bench which Townsend believes could be key in the final quarter.

Tonga coach Toutai Kefu has retained the same starting XV that faced Ireland.

Four former All Blacks start - full-back Salesi Piutau, centre Malakai Fekitoa, scrum-half Augustine Pulu and number eight Vaea Fifita.

Former Australia international Adam Coleman could make his Tonga debut from the bench.

Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend: "We know this is a really important game for us so we've put out as strong a team as we can to win it.

"We feel the last 20 minutes are going to be important so to have players like Darcy Graham, Huw Jones and George Horne coming off the bench to give something different for the Tongan defence could be as important as the guys who get to start.

"Tonga had opportunities against Ireland that they might have taken. When you've got players like [Charles] Piatau and [Malakai] Fekitoa on the field, they can score a try out of anything."

Tonga head coach Toutai Kefu: "Last week's performance, it probably wasn't our best version of us. They deserved another chance. We are desperate to win. Last week wasn't us, so we want to fix that.

"The dream is to win three games in a row. That would be a dream. We can't look too far ahead of ourselves. We are fully focused on performance."

Scotland: Blair Kinghorn; Kyle Steyn, Chris Harris, Sione Tuipulotu, Duhan van der Merwe; Finn Russell, Ben White; Rory Sutherland, George Turner, Zander Fagerson; Richie Gray, Scott Cummings; Jamie Ritchie (captain), Rory Darge, Jack Dempsey

Replacements: Ewan Ashman, Pierre Schoeman, WP Nel, Sam Skinner, Matt Fagerson, George Horne, Huw Jones, Darcy Graham

Tonga: Salesi Piutau; Solomone Kata, Malakai Fekitoa, Pita Ahki, Afusipa Taumoepeau; William Havili, Augustine Pulu; Siegfried Fisi'ihoi, Paula Ngauamo, Ben Tameifuna (captain); Halaleva Fifita, Sam Lousi; Tanginoa Halaifonua, Sione Talitui, Vaea Fifita

Replacements: 16 Sam Moli, Tau Koloamatangi, Sosefo Apikotoa, Adam Coleman, Semisi Paea, Sione Vailanu, Sonatane Takulua, Patrick Pellegrini

Referee: Karl Dickson (England)

Touch judges: Nika Amashukeli (Georgia) and Craig Evans (Wales)

TMO: Ben Whitehouse (Wales)

Head-to-head

Scotland

Tonga